Automatic transfer knitting apparatus



1952 c. w. MINTON 2,622,421

AUTOMATIC TRANSFER KNITTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6 1951 v 2 SI-lEETS-Sl-IEET 1 INVEN TOR.

C. W. MINTON ATTORNEY Dec. 23, 1952 c. w. MINTON 2,622,421

AUTOMATIC TRANSFER KNITTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Iii.

HQ 6 FIG. 7

FIG. '10 F5 mm? 31 ""W HUM. 29; IN W W- MINTON ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1952 I 7 2,622,421 AUTOMATIC" TRANS'FER'KNITTING P APPARATUS a l-lawman, a rtutraia were? "fMay'IHo'siery Mills, Nashville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application August 6, 1951; seriarNo; 240; 463

. '10 Claims. (cli' ts-2'4) This invention relates to textiles); and; more particularlyto an apparatu forcknitting hosiery. I

In the knitting industry, particularlyjin the knitting of hosiery, ithas beenpommon'ipractice to use rib knitting for the leg and'plainknitting for the foot portionst These gopera-tionsghave commonly been performed. on. two 'separateitmachines, o the ib kni t n iwhichisrt'ermed tiiiiysar anthem pa ans. no net-theme necessary; aptitude topermit ttheirsbeing trained as transfer -operators.:.- Clonseguentlytthe cost of a ribber and one for; the plain knittingzwhich is called a foote'rf withthe knitted fabric being manually transferred-from onemachine to the other. v As is well known in the art; the rib knitting of hose may be'performedon-a machine utilizing a plurality of vertically reciprocableneedlesLslidably mounted in grooves. on the outer-surface. of a cylinder. These needles n ayxheiermed, .cylinder needlesfand which zcooperate with a; plurality of,horizontalor; dial: needles which :reciprocate radiany ingljooves in. the=unperysurface of a dial or plate disposecl alocwe the:upper; end of a cylinder. in the simplestform of .rib knitting, the cylinder and dial needles are arran d alternately, but any desired combination-oft cylinder and dial needles may -be-gutilized in order to provide different rib. patterns Plain knitting is performed by theuse of the cylinder needles only.

There are many Y, disadvantages in; this; prior method of makingihosierw an ongthemybeing the. fact thatit is necessary to maintain: a relatively. large sufiply .'of .'ribloed. tops in order that theflplain knitting machinesl vvillvalway s be-kept busy. Also, there areninnerons problems connected' with the shades, or colors of the yarn utilized since it 'is almost ,to v knit the top andfoot nortionof the hose from the same dye lot of yarn Where this. is xlone -on; diflerent ir ra lie mater a san "?oneiw i higi no subject to frequent breakdownsand which will machines. and its is urely that the top will be knitted at one time and the foot portion atnanother time, as much as several. weeks, or months apart.'. Obviously, it would "not he. praetical to attempt to make all of these top portions and foot portions from .the. same dyelot of yarn, consequently, many; problems having-v to do with shading are presented, which. havev eontribiited materially. to \the'tfe1ative1y ost-o f p'ro.- cluction. .By pmd ue 'bnfifi thep" inanner,

much'y'arn is Wasted; nceit sncfessary forithe ribbed etre-h e e 9? e e'v new t make itpossibleffonth operatorfto tifansienthe same tofthejpla'in'knitt achine.- Such extra the 'o'fierator. "Such skilled operators are relatransferzoperationr such. operation: is materially increased and there is. always ,the..prob1em ,ofgobtaining. isuflicie'nt trained: operators to, maintain. production.

,Jt-is thereforeyan object. .of this invention .to

. provide an apparatusf'or automatically :perform- I n ;a -transfer.-.knitting:operation, r. Y

. Another object: of; the. invention; is; to a aut ma c. "transfer. knittin apparatus which a will produce knitted hosiery of high quality; and with .no: pp nt-c a e.- in.-:-.theinittine" whe a compared-with present commonly used manual methods... Another object. ofithe --invention. .is. .to ...provide an; automatic. transfer 'knittinglsapparatus in Whichithe stitch .loopmarried by thedi-alineedles is. .spread 'or xen'larged;to-"permit the- -cylinder needles tozrpass L. through andreceive v '--the'-- loop from thedial ne'edl'e's iii "order to "eoinnlete the 41A further object of theinv ention is Y to provide 5 an automatic transfer knittinz" apparatus which chines without substantial alteration of such may be utilized with-conventional "knitting machines.

r her we p "w irle iqeii th 'b bv' s qn i an" au oma i ki tfir' a pa atus which may. be eco ornically constructed of readfierfo rmfits intendedfuhetion over a i 'ng'penbe of time without necessitating attention orfrepair,

,'Fu ither ,ob1ets and a vantag s crime i Yei iion' "w ll apparent. from the following de- "sjcription taken in conjunction "with the accompanying-drawings; lwhereinn e v 1 f -ll a. se t .r tr b. 22 rviewshowing thedial needle and transfer ijnger of thisin- .vention. disposed in "the dial; groove; and further tra ted. p non, in knitting position,- and in transfe position; I V

. Fig. 2 a perspe ctive ,v'ew to; an enlarged. scale show g-{tn operation 10f. :the dial needle: and

"View an the: line 6 a bf which the stitch loops carried by the dial needles are automatically transferred to the cylinder needles. The machine includes the conventional cylinder and needles carried thereby and a dial in which a specially formed needle and a transfer finger are slidably mounted in the upper surface thereof. During the rib knitting operation, a cam reciprocates the dial needles and transfer fingers radially of the dial and during the transfer operation the needles are projected a greater distance radially of the dial than during the-knitting operation. During the transfer operation the transfer fingers operate to spread the stitch loop carried by the dial needles and at the same time the dial needles move a short distance laterally of the dial groove, to permit passage of the cylinder needle situated directly below the dial needle upward- -ly through the loop carried by the dial needle and spread by the transfer finger. Upon completion of the transfer operation the dial needles and fingers are retracted into the dial and remain inoperative during the plain knitting operation and until it is desired to initiate a further rib knitting operation.

With continued reference to the drawing,

. there is shown in Fig. 1 a dial I for a knitting machine,- this dial having radial grooves I I in the upper surface thereof. Dial I0 is mounted on a horizontal plane slightly above the upper end of the cylinder of the knitting machine and in some types of knitting machines the ,dial and cylinder rotate while in others the dial and cylinder are stationary and movable cams are provided for actuating the needles. The present invention will operate equally well with either type of machine. The dial I0 is provided with a central aperture I2 for receiving a shaft, not

for keying the. dial to the shaft and to prevent relative rotation 'therebetween. Slidably received in the grooves II of dial ID are knitting needles I4 and transfer fingers I5. These needles and transfer fingers may occupy an inoperative position as shown at the right in Fig. 1 and may be projected to a knitting position as shown in the center of this figure and likewise may be projected a greater distance for performing a transfer operation as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 1.

With particular reference to Figs. 3 to 8, the

needle I4 comprises an elongated flat body portion I6 which is constructed preferably of metal but other suitable material may be employed if desired- One end of body I6 terminates in a tail or tang II which,-as shown in Fig. 3, is bent at an angle to the body l6 of the needle and the purpose and utility of this bent tang will presently be described. Extending from the opposite end of the body I6 is a'reduced shank portion I8 terminating in a hook I 9. Hook I9 may be closed to permit a stitch loop to pass from the shank I8 over the hook without being received within'the same by a latch 20 pivotally mounted at 2| on the shank I8. Latch 20 is provided with a-hood 22 which'partially embraces the end of hook IS in order to provide a smooth surface and prevent catching of the yarn thereon. At

shown, there being a keyway I3 in the dial I0 the inner end of shank I8 there is provided an inclined surface 23 which extends upwardly and terminates in a shoulder 24 at the point of juncture with the body I6. Body I6 is provided in one face thereof with a tapered concave groove 25 and adjacent this groove is an aperture 26, the purpose of which will be presently described. In the form of needle shown in Fig. 7, aperture 26 is replaced by a recess 21 which performs the same function. Body I5 is also provided with a cam-engaging butt 28 projecting from one edge thereof and this butt may be either of the low variety as shown in full lines or may be made longer as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

With reference to Figs. 9 and 10 the transfer finger I5 comprises a resilient metallic strip having somewhat the same configuration asthe body I6 of the needle I4. Transfer finger I5 comprises a body portion 29 and a tang or tail portion 30 there being a cam-engaging butt 3| projecting from one'ed'ge of the body 29. Butt 3| is similar in every respect to the butt 28 of needle I4. The body 29 of the transfer finger I5 is provided at the forward end thereof with a bit 32 which extends at an angle to the body portion 29 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 9. The formation of the transfer finger I5 is also clearly shown in Fig. 9 and in effect forms a leaf spring, thepurpose of which will be later described.

The body I6 of the needle I4 is reduced in thickness between the butt 28 and the inner end of the tang I1, the opposite side of the body I6 from the concave groove 25 being provided with an inclined surface 33 which extends from the inner end of the tang I! inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the needle and terminates in a curved shoulder 34 adjacent the butt 28. shoulder 34 providing'a camming action which will be later described in connection with the operation of the device.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the dial needles I4 and the transfer fingers I5 are disposed in side by side relation in the grooves II of dial I0. With the needles and fingers in the position shown in the center of Fig. 1 the tang I1 of needle I4 is substantially straight with relation to the body I6 and the curved spring transfer finger I5 is also fiat. This results in the needle and transfer fingers bearing'against the walls of the grooves II and provides suificient tension to prevent vibration or undesired movement of such needles and fingers. When the needles and transfer fingers are retracted to inoperative position as shown at the right of Fig. 1, the tang I! of the needle I4 and the tang 30 of the transfer finger I5 due to their resiliency, diverge and retain the needles and transfer fingers in such position until projected by action of a cam upon the butts 28 and 3|.

The operation of the device is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and it is to be understood that during a rib knitting operationstitch loops are received on each dial needle and on every other cylinder needle 35. The cylinder needle 36, located directly below the dial needle I4, is in lowered or inoperative position during the rib knitting operation and remains immovable during such operation. When it isdesired to transfer from rib knitting to plain knitting it is necessary to transfer the stitch loop 31 carried by the dial needle I4 to the previously inoperative cylinder needle 36. This operation is accomplished as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by projecting the dial needle 14 and transfer finger I5 to the position shown on the left hand side of Fig. 1. In this position the against the'sideof-the needle I reset-54m to move laterallyin" the' groove theidi'stance of I "the reduction in thickness of the needle H caused "by the shoulder 34- and-inclinedsurface 33. Nee'dle 14- is moved laterally -in'- this manner byreason of the resiliency of'the'transferfinger Wbe'arin This operation is clearly shown at' the' left -i Slightly away from the fiat-condition whihisapparent in the position o f -theneedle shownin-the ---center of Fig. 1.- At the 'sametime; 'the'outer end of tra'nsfer' finger l'5 'carrying the bit" Siffsp'rings or moves outwardly awa'y fromtheadjagcentsur- '"faceoftheneedle l4to form-a-diverging support for the stitch loop 31. fjAt-this periodin th e-'op eration, the; stitch loop 3 1 has moved up the in- "clin'ed surface 2 3 and into "-engagementwith 1 the shoulder 24 on the-outer end ofthebody-liof "needle [4. Likewise,"the stitch loop'fii'l is'en- 'gaged by the upper surface of the 'bit 32fand by the outer end 24 ofthe'transfer fingerl'5.- 'As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2;this--divergin-g-ire' lationship between the outer end (if-"the transfer finger l5 and the needle Mspreads the: stitch' loop 3'! an appreciable amount and since"th'e'n'e'edle 14' has 'moved laterally the previously idle cyli-nder'needle 36'may pass. upwardlyf'through the loop 37. and will not contact then'eedle Hbyfreason of the clearance provided by 'concave'groove 25. After the cylinder needle 36.has'"passed upwardly'through the'stitch loop 31; the dial needle M and transfer finger .l5 areretractedintothe dial groove H and the stitch loop 31*remains on the cylinder needle 36- which "thenmoves down- 'the'wall of: the groove l I. During retraction'of the dial needle I l from the position shown at the left'in Fig. 1, the outerend '38"o'f the groove ll engagesthe curved shoulder 3'4"ofithe"needle l4 and provides a "'camming action "to move the needle I 4 .laterally in the "groove to apositi'on where theshoulder will pass inwardlyffrom the end :38 and 'will remain in such, position until 'the stamping operation "while. the "needle is scarcely more difficult to fabricate than the conventional dial needle. All that is necessaryis 'to'provide the concave .groove 25, the-'apertureJZG or recess 21 and the reduced portion formedfbythejinc'lin'ed'surface '33and the shoulderifl. Aside from." these features, the needle" is substantially identical to" conventional dial needles. In "the caseof breakage or extreme-wear, .it iszonly necessary to" replace the needle and transfer finger in 'the'- dial 'groovesandithis is.as' simpleanpp'erat'ionas'merely replacing ane'edle.

It- -will---'be obvious to those" skilled -in.:the a art thatvarious" changes mey be made in the inv'entron without departing from-the-spirit-and scope "thereof; andtherefore-theinvention-is not limited 'bythat which is shown fin'thedra'wing and described in: thefs'peci'fication, but'only as indicated in"thejappended claims.

' TWhat'isIclaimedi's:

I vl. .an automatic. transfer .knittingjLmachine, w reciprocablymountedcylinder needles',-icertain of said cylinder. .needles' being .reciprocable' during a rib iknitting operation and Call of said cylinder needles beingreciprocabl .during a; plain knitting operation, a "dial .disposed iadjacent said cylinder needles, grooves in .one surface. of -said (dial;v dial needles slidably disposed; in said. grooves, a transfer finger slidablydispos'edin. each groove in sideby-side abutting relationship-with .each ..dial .needle, said dial'needlesand transferfingers'being reciprocable during arib kn'itting operation and retractible to. an inoperative. position during a plain-knittingoperation and said dial .needles and transfer fingers being movable.- radially outwardly ofsaiddial during a transferoperation to a position beyond the knitting position each .of said dial needles comprising. an elongated rela- :tively thinbody of appreciable 'width,a-cam engaging butt extending from one'edge of the body, a reduced portion extending from one end-of-said body and terminating; -a*yarn-e ngaging hook, ailatchpivotally mountedon said reduced portion and engageable with said hook to close-the same, a shoulderon the end of said body adjacent said reduced portion, a :resilienttang extendingfifrom the opposite endofsaid-body, a tapered groove in one side face;ofsaid body adjacent said shoulder, a transverseaperture-in-said bodyadjacent said groove, said-body being-reduced in thickness :be-

. tween said butt andsaidatang and an inclined surface on the "fopposite-sideiof said :body from a said groove: extending inwardly 'from said: tang toward: the .z-longitudinal axis of said body. and

terminating in an outwardly curved shoulder adqjacent said butt, each .of said transfer fingers comprising .an elongated -;relatively thin resilient body of appreciable width, said bodyhaving a substantially-bowed formation whenin unstressed condition, a cam rengaging butt extending from said last named body and a bit extending from said last named bodyat-anangle thereto, whereby upon movement ofsaid needlesand transfer fingers. to transfer position .saidgneedles will; be

-moved laterally in said grooves-by reason of 'the force exerted byssaid transfer-fingers to. bring said inclined" surfaces into' engagement with the WallsOf said grooves and saidbits will-move laterally away .ifrom said needles. toz-spread stitchf loops received 'thereon' and .permitpassagefof oer-- tain' of said rcylin'der needles through. said loops and :upon retraction of said 'needles "andxisaid transfer: fingers said needles "will .be moved laterallyby'the eamming 'actio'n' of said curved shoulders' engaging theoutenedges of said.grooves'said bits willbe received in said aperturesrandgsaid loopsfwillbetransferredto said certain cylinder needles.

- 2. .In 'ana'utomatictransfer knitting-machine reciprocably mounted cylinder needles, jcerta'in of said cylinder"needlesibein'g'reciproc'able "during a rib knitting operation,. and :allpf said. cylinder needles being reciprocable during a plain knitting operation; a dial disposedadjacrit said cylinder needles, grooves in one surface of -saiddiah dial needles slidably disposed'insaid grooves. a'tr'ansfer, finger slidably disposed in eachgroove in side- ,by-side abutting relationship with each dial needle, said dial needles and transfer fingers being reciprocable during a. rib knitting operation and retractible to an inoperative position during a plain knitting operation and said dial needles and transfer fingers being movable radially outwardly of said dial during a transfer operation to a position beyond the knitting position, each of said dial needles comprising an elongated relatively thin body of appreciable width, a cam engaging butt extending from one edge of said body, a reduced portion extending from one end of said body and terminating in ayarn-engaging hook, a latch pivotally mounted on said reduced portion and engageable with said hook to close the same, a shoulder adjacent said reduced portion, a resilient tank extending from the opposite end of said body, a tapered concave groove in one side face of said body adjacent said shoulder, a transverse recess in said body adjacent said groove, said body being reduced in thickness between said butt and said tank and an inclined surface on the opposite side of said body from said groove extending inwardly from said tank toward the longitudinal axis of said body and terminating in an outwardly curved shoulder adjacent said butt, each of said transfer fingers comprising an elongated relatively thin resilient body of appreciable width, said body having a substantially bowed formation when in unstressed condition, a cam engaging butt extending from one edge of said last named body and a bit extending from one end of said last named body at an angle thereto whereby upon movement of said needles and transfer fingers to transfer position said needles will be moved laterally in said grooves by reason of the force exerted by said transfer fingers to bring said inclined surfaces into engagement with the walls of said grooves and said bits will move laterally away from said needles to spread stitch loops received thereon and permit passage of certain of said cylinder needles through said loops and upon retraction of said needles and said transfer fingers said needles will be moved laterally by the camming action of said curved shoulders engaging the outer edges of said grooves, said bits will be received in said recesses and said loops will be transferred to said certain cylinder needles.

3. In an automatic transfer knitting machine reciprocably mounted cylinder needles, certain of said cylinder needles being reciprocable during a rib knitting operation, and all of saidcylinder needles being reciprocable during a plain knitting operation, a dial disposed adjacent said cylinder needles, grooves in one surface of said dial, dial needles slidably disposed in said grooves, a transfer finger slidably disposed in each groove in side-by-side abutting relationship with each dial needle, said dial needles and transfer fingers being reciprocable during a rib knitting operation and retractible to an inoperative position during a plain knitting operation and said dial needles and transfer finger being movable radially outwardly of said dial during a transfer operation to a position beyond the knitting position, each of said dial needles comprising an elongated relatively thin body of appreciable width, a cam engaging butt extending from one edgeof said body, a reduced portion extending from one end of said 'body and terminating in a yarn engaging hook, ,a latch pivotally mounted on said reduced portion and engageable with said hook to close the same, -a shoulder on the-end of said body adjacent said reduced portion, a tapered concave groove in one side face of said body adjacent said shoulder,- a transverse aperture in said body adjacent said groove,-said body being reduced in thickness be tween said butt and the opposite end of said body and an inclinedsurface on the opposite end of said body from said groove extending inwardly Y from the oppositeend of said body toward the longitudinal axis thereof and terminating in an outwardly curved shoulder adjacent said butt, each of said transfer fingers comprising an elongated relatively thin resilient body of appreciable width said body having a substantially bowed formation when in unstressed condition, a cam engaging butt extending from one edge of said last named body and a bit extending from one end of said last named body at an angle thereto whereby upon movement of said needles and transfer fingersto transfer position said needles will be moved laterally in said grooves by reason of the force exerted by said transfer fingers to bring said inclined surface into engagement with the walls of said grooves and said bits will move laterally away from said needles to spread stitch loops received thereon and permit passage of certain of said cylinder needles through said loops and upon retraction of said needles and said transfer fingers said needles will be moved laterally by the camming action of said curved shoulders engaging the outer edges of said grooves and said bits will be received in said apertures and said loops will be transferred to said certain cylinder needles.

4. In an automatic transfer knitting machine reciprocably mounted cylinder needles, certain of said needles being reciprocable during a ribknitting operation and all of said cylinder needles being reciprocable during a plain knitting operation, a dial disposed adjacent said cylinder needles, grooves in One surface of said dial, dial needles slidably disposed insaid grooves, a transfer finger slidably disposed in each groove in side-by-side abutting relationship with each dial needle, said dial needles and transfer fingers being reciprocable during a rib knitting operation and retractible to an inoperative position during a plain knitting operation and said dial needles and transfer fingers being movable radially outwardly of said dial during a transfer operation to a position beyond the knitting position, each of said dial needles comprising an elongated relatively thin body of appreciable width, a cam engaging butt extending from one edge of said body, a reduced portion extending from one end of said body and terminating in a yarn engaging hook, a latch pivotally mounted on said reduced portion and engageable with said hook to close the same, a shoulder on the end of said body adjacent said reduced portion, a transverse aperture in said body, said body being reduced in thickness between said butt and the opposite end of said body and an inclined surface on the opposite side of said body from said transfer finger extending inwardly from the opposite end of said body toward the longitudinal axis thereof and terminating in an outwardly curved shoulder adjacent said butt, each of said transfer fingers comprising an elongated relatively thin resilient body of appreciable width, said body having a substantially bowed formation when in unstressed condition, a, cam engaging butt extending from one end of said last named body and a bit extending from one end of said last named body at an angle thereto whereby upon movement of saidneedles and transfer fingers totransfer. position said%needle's will TbemOYed" laterally; in" said grooves by? reason 'Ofthe,fOrC9' exerted -by saidttransfere fingers" to bring xsaid inclined surfaces:intoengagement with theiwalls' of said groovesand said"bits'wilkmoyelaterally 5 away: from 'said' needles to" spread 1 stitch" loops i received thereon and permitpassageiofcertain of said cylinder; needles throughfsaid' loops and upon retraction of 'saidneedles and said" transfer: fingers said needles will be". moved laterallyby the" cammingc action ofsaidcurved shoulders engaging the" outerfledges' of said grooves; said-Z bits will be received in said apertures andi saidpit loops; will be'transferred' toi'said-certain cylinder needles... v

5'. an automatic transfer knitting machine reciprocably mounted cylinder needles; *certain" of said cylinder needles; being reciprooable dur-"- ing' a rib-knitting operation and allijofsaid ,cyle" inder, needles being reciprocable during' a'plain knitting operation, a dialdisposedadjacentsaid cylinder needles, grooves 1110116 surface of 1 said) dial, dial needles slidablyfdisposed inrsaid. fQoves, a transfer finger slidablyLdisposedgineach"groove in, side-by-side 1 abutting relationship with each dial needle, said dial needles and transfer fingers beingreciprocable duringa rib-knitting operation and; retractible' to an inoperative; position. during a plain knitting,operation,andsaididial 1 needles and transfer fingers beingmovablelradi-l allyfoutwardly of said dial, during atransfer. op eration to a position beyond the knittingjposig tion, each of said dial .needlescomprisingan .elo'n-s gated relatively thin body of appreciable. width, a cam, engagingbutt extending from one, edge of, saidlbody; a reduced portionpextendin'gv from. onepend of .saidbodyj and terminatingwinja .yarn engaging hook, a latch pivotallymountedon said reduced portion and engageablefwithl said hook to close thesame, a shoulder ontheIendof said s body adjacent saidreduced portion, said. body j being reduced in, thickness. "between, csaidjsbuttfl and the opposite end .of saidlbodyland,anhinew clined, surface on: .the oppositelside jof.isaid.,body, from said transfer cfinger, extending, inwardlyl from the opposite.endcofjsaidbody toward; the; longitudinal. axis thereof ,and terminating, in: an outwardly curvedshoulder adjacent said butt,.1 each .of s'aidtransferfingers comprising an elon-W gated relatively thin ,resilie'ntbody of appreciable. width," said body having a substantially..cboyved. 1 formation when. in, unstressed condition, a cam, engaging butt extendingvfrom one. edge of said, last. named body'and a. bit extending fromszonel endjojf said last namedbo'dy. whereby upon movei mentof said wneedlessandyjtransfer;fingers to. transfer position, said needles .willhe-movedvlatee orally" in said; grooves, by. reason of.\the..force,- exerted by said transfer .fingers -,to bring saidsin-i clined surfaces into engagement with'the walls, of said grooves and said bitsgwill move laterally away from said needles" to spread stitch loops received thereon'and permitpassage of certain of said cylinder needles through said loops and upon retraction of said needlessand'said transfer fingers said needles will be -moved laterally by the camming action of 'said' curved. shoulders engaging the outer edges of saidigrooves andsaid. loops will betransferred tovsaidlcertain cylinder needles;

6; For use in an automatic-transfer knitting machine, a dial needleand ,a transfer finger. adapted; to "begpositioned in" sidej-iby;side relation,- in-.:,a.g.roove-"of a dial; said"dial;;needle comprising; an -elongated relatively'thin' body of appreciable width; a, cam engaging: butt extending from" one edge:of saidho'dmfa reduced portion extending 1 from" one" endgof said bodyand-terminating .in a yarn engaging hookr'a' latch" pivotally; mount;

edon" saidireduced; portion and engageable ,with

said hook' to" closer-thesame; a shoulder on .the

endiof saidz body adj acent said: reduced portion, s

a resilienttang extending 'from'the 1opposite'end' ofsaid bodyya tapered concave groove in ;one side ;face, of said ,body'adj a'cent said shoulder, a

transverse aperture ingsaidbody adjacent said" groove, said 'bodybeingreduced: in thickness :be-'

tween-said butt and saiditangand an inclined surface on the; opposite side of' said body; from said groove extending inwardly from said tang;

toward-"the" longitudinal :axis of said-body" and" terminating inan-outwardlycurvedshouldertad jacentsaid butt;i-each of said transfer fingers". comprisinganelongated relatively thin resilient body of" appreciable width; said body having; a 1

substantially bowed formation;- when in '-un-" stressed condition, a camengaging butt "extend-'- ingfrom said-last named body and a bit -extend*- ing from one end-ofsaid lasts-named body' at an angle-thereto whereby --upon-movement of said needle and transfer finger to transfer-position" said-needle will bemoved laterally insaid groove by reason of the force exerted" bysaid transfer finger-to bring-saidinclined-surface into engage--- ment with the-wall of said=groove and said bitwill move laterally: away fromsaidneedle to: spreada stitchloop-receivedthereon-and permitpassage of a cylinder-needle therethroug-lrand upon retraction of said needle andsaid transfer finger saidneedle will be moved laterally by -thecamming actionof said curved-shoulder-en-' gaging the" outer edge of said groove; said bit will be received in saidaperture and: said loops will be transferred-to saidcylinder needle.

ofisaid body, a tapered concave: groove on one side face of body adj acentsaid shoulder; a

transverserecess in said a body adjacent said groove,- 'said b'ody being reduced'dn thickness be-=- tween said butt and said -tang'and' aminolir'iedsurfaceon the: opposite 1 side of said r body from said groove" extending" inwardly from said tang "toward -the longitudinal axis of -saidbody and l terminating in an outwardly curved shoulder-acn j acent said butt; said t'ransfer finger --comp11is ing- M an elongated relatively thin resilientbody 'of;

appreciablewidth' said body having-ya substang tiallybowed formation -whendnunstressed con diti-on,' a cam -engaging butt "extendingfro'm one edge- 0f said last'named body'anda bitextende'i' ingfrom one end --ofsai,d-last-n,amed :body at an I angle thereto-whereby-'uponmovement of said-"i needle and saidtransfer:fingertdtransfer p osie tion said needle will Joe-moved" laterally 1 1 said groove" by reason of: the force exerted; by said; transfer-finger to bring saidjinclined surfaceim Y to engagementwith the wallpfssaidcgroove and; "said bid" will-move laterally'away from said needle tospread a stitch loop received thereon and permit passage of a cylinder needle through said loop and upon retraction of said needle and said transfer finger said needle will be moved laterally by the camming action of said curved shoulder engaging the outer edge of said groove, said bit will be received in said recess and said loop will be transferred to said cylinder needle.

8. For use in an automatic transfer knitting .machine, a dial needle and a transfer finger adapted to be disposed in side-by-side'relation in a groove of a dial, said dial needle comprising an elongated relatively thin body of appreciable width, a cam engaging butt extending from one ed e of said body, a reduced portion extending from one end of said body and terminating in a yarn engaging hook,,a latch pivotally mounted on said reduced portion and engageable with said hook to close the same, a shoulder on the end of said body adjacent said reduced portion, a tapered concave groove on one side face of said body adjacent said shoulder, a transverse aperture in said body adjacent said groove, said body being reduced inthickness between said butt and the opposite end of said body and an inclined surface on the opposite side of said body from said groove extending inwardly from the opposite end of said body toward the longitudinal axis thereof and terminating in an outwardly curved shoulder adjacent said butt, said transfer finger comprising an elongated relatively thin resilient body of appreciable width, said body having a substantially bowed formation when in unstressed condition, a cam engaging butt extending from one edge of said last named body and a bit extending from one end of said last named body at an angle thereto whereby upon movement of said needle and transfer finger to transfer position said needle will be moved laterally in said groove by reason of the force exerted'by said transfer finger to bring said inclined surface into engagement with the wall of said groove and said bit will move laterally awayfrom said needle to spread a stitch loop received thereon and permit pas sageof a cylinder needle through said loop and upon retraction ofv said needle and said transfer finger said needle will bemoved laterally by thecamming action of said curved shoulder engaging the outer edge of said groove, said'bit will be receivedin said aperture and said loop will be transferred to saidcylinder needle.

9. For use in an automatic transfer knitting machine a dial needle and a transfer finger adapted to be positioned in side-by-side relation in a groove of a dial, said dial needle comprising an elongated relatively thin bodyofappreciable width, a cam engaging butt' extending from one edge of said body, a reduced portion extending from one end of said body and ter minating in a yarn engaging hook, a latch pivotally mounted on said reduced portion and engageable with said hook to close the same, a shoulder on the'end of said; body adjacent said reduced portion, a transverse aperture in said body, said body being reduced in thickness between .said butt and the opposite end of said body and an inclined surface on the opposite side of said body from said transfer finger extending inwardly from the opposite end of said body toward the longitudinal axis thereof and terminating in anoutwardly curved shoulder adjacent. said butt, said transfer finger comprising an elongated relatively thin resilient body of appreciable width, said body having a. Sub-.

12. stantially bowed formation when in unstressed condition, a cam engaging butt extending from one edge of said last named body and a bit extending from one end of'said last named body at an angle thereto whereby upon movement of said needle and said transfer finger to transfer position said needle will be moved laterally in said groove by reason of the force exerted by said transfer finger to bring said inclined surface into engagement with the wall of said groove and said bit will move laterally away from said needle to spread a stitch loop received thereon and permit passage of a cylinder needle through said loop and upon retraction of said needle and said transfer finger said needle will be moved laterallyrby the camming action of said shoulder engaging the outer edge of said groove, said bit will be-received in said aperture and said loop will be transferred to said cylinder needle.

10. For use in an automatic transfer knitting machine a dial needle and a transfer finger adapted to be positioned in side-by-side relation in a groove of a dial, said dial needle comprising an elongated relatively thin body of appreciable width, a cam engaging butt extending from one edge of v said body, a reduced portion extending from one end of said body and terminating in a yarn engaging hook, a latch pivotally mounted on said reduced portion and engageable with said hook to close the same, a shoulder on the end of said body adjacent said reduced portion, said body being reduced in thickness between said butt and the opposite end of said body and an inclined surface on the opposite. side of said body from said transfer fin-, ger extending inwardly from the opposite end of said body toward the longitudinalaxis thereof, and terminating in an outwardly curved shoulder adjacent said butt, said transfer finger comprising an elongated relatively thin resilient body of appreciable width, said body having a substantially bowed formation when in an unstressed condition, a cam engaging butt extending fromone edgeof said last named body and a bit extending from one end of said last named. body whereby upon movement of said needle and transfer finger to transfer position said needle will be moved laterally in said groove by reason of the force exerted by said transfer finger to bring said inclined surface into engagement with the wall of said groove and said bit will move laterally away from said needle to spread a stitch loop received thereon and permit passageof a cylinder needle through said loop and upon retraction of said needle and said transfer finger said needle will be moved laterally by the camming action of said curved shoulder engaging the outer edge of said groove and said loop will be transferred to said cylinder needle.

CLARENCE w. MINTO'N.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

